CHAPTER 392

HB 1653-FN-A-LOCAL – FINAL VERSION

2008 SESSION

08-2936

09/10

HOUSE BILL 1653-FN-A-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to providing additional fuel assistance and enhanced weatherization services to income-eligible New Hampshire citizens and state matching funds for July-September 2008 disaster assistance grants, and making appropriations therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wallner, Merr. 12; Rep. L. Foster, Hills. 4; Rep. Hess, Merr. 9; Rep. Chandler, Carr. 1; Sen. Foster, Dist. 13; Sen. Gatsas, Dist. 16

COMMITTEE:

ANALYSIS

This bill makes appropriations to the office of energy and planning for the fuel assistance program and the low income weatherization program. The bill requires the public utilities commission to make transfers from the Home Energy Solutions program and unused SO2 allowance proceeds held by Public Service Company of New Hampshire to the Home Energy Assistance Program for income-eligible citizens for weatherization services.

The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management, for state matching funds for disaster assistance grants to communities which sustained tornado, wind, and flood damage between July and September 2008.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2936

09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT relative to providing additional fuel assistance and enhanced weatherization services to income-eligible New Hampshire citizens and state matching funds for July-September 2008 disaster assistance grants, and making appropriations therefor.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

392:1 Findings. The general court finds that the escalating costs of fuel and the tightening of energy supplies has led to significantly higher and more volatile home heating and electricity prices, requiring action by the state in advance of the 2008-2009 winter to provide additional fuel assistance and enhanced weatherization services to income-eligible New Hampshire citizens.

392:2 Appropriation; Office of Energy and Planning; Fuel Assistance Program. The sum of $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 is hereby appropriated to the office of energy and planning for the state’s fuel assistance program. This appropriation is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the office of energy and planning. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. It is the intent of the general court that anticipated federal revenue replace moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated as the funding source for this appropriation to the extent that federal fuel assistance funding exceeds $27,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

392:3 Appropriation; Office of Energy and Planning; Low Income Weatherization Program.

I. The sum of $1,200,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 is hereby appropriated to the office of energy and planning to accelerate and expand the availability of weatherization services for this upcoming winter. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 125-O, these funds may be used for the state’s existing income-eligible weatherization program and for the Stay Warm New Hampshire weatherization initiative. The source of funds for this appropriation shall be the greenhouse gas emissions reduction fund established pursuant to RSA 125-O:23, I.

II. The office of energy and planning shall submit by December 1, 2008 and every 60 days thereafter a report on the allocation and use of all federal and state moneys for fuel assistance and weatherization efforts to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the governor, and the fiscal committee of the general court.

392:4 Public Utilities Commission; Home Energy Assistance Program. The public utilities commission shall transfer $500,000 from the Home Energy Solutions program to the Home Energy Assistance Program for income-eligible citizens for weatherization services. The public utilities commission shall also transfer $360,000 in unused SO2 allowance proceeds held by the Public Service Company of New Hampshire to the Home Energy Assistance Program for income-eligible weatherization services.

392:5 Appropriation; State Matching Funds for July-September 2008 Disaster Assistance Grants. In response to tornado and heavy wind damage sustained by communities in July 2008, and the heavy rains and flood damage sustained by communities between July and September 2008, a sum not to exceed $300,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management, as the required state match for federal disaster assistance funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Any unexpended funds appropriated in this section shall not lapse to the general fund until June 30, 2011. The appropriation in this section shall be in addition to any other funds appropriated for such purpose. With prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court, the department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management, shall distribute the funds appropriated by this section for payment of claims in the order in which they were filed, to any eligible FEMA applicant that submitted a timely request for such assistance based on the disaster area declaration date. The funds shall be distributed pursuant to the following funding formula: federal funds shall be used for 75 percent of eligible costs and state funds shall be used for the remaining costs, except that the local applicant first shall pay 12.5 percent of its total eligible costs.

392:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: September 24, 2008

Effective Date: September 24, 2008